I would pass another vote for the plasma....you just have to spend so much more on a LCD that can produce the same black levels of a plasma. Also, as Emusica mentioned above, the pixel-shifting technology has gotten quite good and you don't have to worry about image burn-in.
Now as for everyone professing that you need to get a 1080p set....that is up for debate...I have the new 2008 Panasonic TH-50PX80U plasma...which is not the 1080p line--the picture is OUTSTANDING. As you will see mentioned in quite a few reviews and articles to see the advantages of 1080p resolution in a 50" screen for example, you would have to sit five feet or closer to the screen if compared to the same program in 720p directly next to it. And the fact is if you are sitting that close....your room is WAY too small for a 50".
1080p really shows its edge in the projector world where you have screen sizes of 80"+...But for the 50" market you are paying for no real advantage. That being said, I compared my Panny TH-50PX80U head-to-head in store with the same blu-ray player on the Sony XBR LCD's and even the Samsung LED Backlight LCD...and the picture was just was good with even better black levels than those sets...
Yes, with higher-end Plasmas like the THX Panny version or the Kuro you do get alot of image fine-tuning tools....but unless that is a priority you can get an outstanding without a huge hit on your wallet. I would definitely go look at the new line of Panasonic plasmas as they can all be had at great prices right now...
However, as you said in your post price is not an issue....so you mine as well just go with the new Kuro as I saw it a few days ago and it absolutely outstanding....
